Today we went to Westminster Abbey. Molly was our tour guide again, and she took us through the abbey and told us about all we were seeing. The architecture was so beautiful! I loved the style, which she said is “Early English”. Particularly the ceilings, I love that interesting shape. I also love stained glass windows, so I liked looking at the incredible detail that was all throughout the abbey. There were gravestones everywhere on the floor, as well as rooms housing the tombs of Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, and a few others. While I was told beforehand that there was a lot of people—scientists, artists, poets, etc., I was still surprised by just how many were squeezed in there. There was practically no free space, all of the floors had plaques dedicated to someone or another. A lot of names I did not recognize, but some I did. There were a few names I did not expect to see there and found it very interesting.
Next to a beautifully intricate statue for Issac Newton, on the ground, there was a relatively small piece for Steven Hawking. It displayed a black whole, along with a formula he is known for figuring out about black holes, his name and dates of birth and death. It wasn’t big or showy, which is part of what surprised me. I expected all the people I recognized to have bigger memorials simply because they must have been important enough if I recognize them. But his, along with a few others that surprised me, was small and simplistic. I’m embarrassed to say that I did not know Steven Hawking was English, I guess I knew at one point (I’ve seen The Theory of Everything), but forgot and just assumed he was American? I don’t know, but it only furthered my surprise to see him there. His memorial stone says “Here Lies What Was Mortal of Steven Hawking 1942-2018.” His ashes are buried underneath, between Issac Newton and Charles Darwin.
Charles Darwin was another interesting person to see there. Known for his theory of evolution and writing On the Origin of Species, I would not have guessed the church would want him there. His view of evolution was challenging to the ideas of the church. I know he was highly criticized by the church during his life, so it is interesting to see him there in death. His memorial stone just says “Charles Robert Darwin Born 12 February 1809 Died 19 April 1882”, and it is right next to John Herschel’s grave.
There was also author Rudyard Kipling. He is buried in Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey. His grave is next to Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy. It too only has his name, birth, and death dates— “Rudyard Kipling Born 30th Dec. 1865 Died 18th Jan. 1936.” (I was born exactly 69 years after his death!) He is known for writing The Jungle Book. He was born in British India, which was the inspiration for his books. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, and he was offered a knighthood but denied it. I knew The Jungle Book was a very famous and popular book, but I didn’t know how beloved Kipling himself was.
I though Westminster Abbey was such a beautiful and interesting place. The tombs were beautiful, and I loved that they had statues of some of the bodies like Queen Elizabeth I. When the priest spoke to announce the prayer, and it scared poor Molly, I thought that was really funny! I also liked getting to see Big Ben and Parliament today!
Theatre in London U of A 